Gurgaon seeks new tubewells to quell drinking water shortage

The affidavit read that “the National Horticulture Mission and Rashtriya Kisan Vikas Yojana schemes are hampered due to scarcity of water and the small and marginal farmers are particularly affected”. The Commissioner also submitted that “rural population becomes belligerent whenever there is scarcity of water”.

Responding to the court’s query on the issue of scarcity of drinking water in Gurgaon,the government said it has made plans to arrest the “alarming rate” at which the drinking water is depleting. “Keeping in view the growing demand due to regular migration from NCR and other parts of the country to Gurgaon,a new NCR canal,with a capacity of 500 cusec,has been constructed to supply water exclusively for drinking and domestic purpose in Gurgaon,” the affidavit read.

It stated that according to the report submitted by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA),five water treatment plants with a capacity of 22 million gallon daily (MGD) each were being constructed at Budhera village. The second plant will be in operation by September and the third by December this year,the affidavit said.

The DC said,by December,about 126 MGD canal water will be available for drinking and domestic purpose,which is enough for a population of 37 lakh. “Since,the present population of Gurgaon town is 15.7 lakh,there will be no scarcity of drinking water in the area after December.”

On the issue of use of groundwater for construction by licensed builders,the DC said that despite a High Court ban on use of ground water,162 cases of violations,by builders and residents of colonies,have been reported. The DC also said that action against 157 violators had been taken.

The department has issued 479 notices to licensed builders,asking them to disclose their sources of water. As many as 860 cases of “illegal abstraction of water” have been reported by defaulters.

The affidavit was taken on record by the High Court and the case was adjourned for four weeks for further arguments.